Staple driving machine



y 30, 1 F. POLZER 2,160,514

STAPLE DRIVING CHINE Filed Feb. 20. 1931 Patented May 30, 1939 "UNITED STATES ,7 2,160,514 swarm nmvmc mom Fridolin Polzer, Norwalk, Conn., assignor to The p E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Nor-walk, Conm, a

corporation oi Connecticut Application February 20. 1937, Serial No. 126,7 94

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in staple driving machines, and while the invention is hereinafter disclosed as embodied in a stapling machine it is also applicable to a tacker.

An object of the invention is to provide a staple driving machine which is of simple construction and may be manufactured at low cost, and in which all operating parts are concealed whereby the machine is of neat and attractive appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of go the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a complete staple driving machine constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine but on a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is a front end elevational view on the scale of Fig. 1 and taken as looking from the left in Fig. 2, the plunger knob being omitted;

30 Fig. 4 is a rear end view partly in elevation and partly in section and on the scale of Fig. 1 but taken as looking from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

5 Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the plunger empl yed;

Fig. '7 is a side view thereof and in dotted lines suggesting the manner in which the knob is secured to the plunger;

m Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of aninner housing employed;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of said housing;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the follower rod manipulator and anchor means;

5 Fig, 11 is a detail view looking toward the front wall of the outer or main housing from the inside thereof;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken as along the line l2--l2 of Fig. 11; m Fig. 13 is atop plan view of the forward portion of the main housing with the plunger removed; a

Fig. 14 is a front view of the plunger and driver showing the meansattaching the driver to the II P g Fig. 15 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 14, parts being broken away;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the slide bar casin having the slide bar therein;

Fig. 17 is an end elevational view taken as look'-- 5 ing from the left in Fig. 18;

Fig. 18 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 16 but with parts broken away; and

Fig. 19 is a bottom plan view of the forward. .or head portion of the machine. 10

Referring in detail to the drawing, at I0 is shown the main housing of a stapling machine. All of the operating parts of the machine except the hand knob and a portion of the plunger are enclosed and concealed by the housing l0, and 15 the latter is made up of a single piece of sheet metal pressed and formed to provide a top or connecting wall ll, side walls l2 and I3 and a front wall M which latter comprises a pair of extensions on the side walls l2 and I3, and which 0 extensions are bent at right angles to said walls and arranged with their edges in abutting relation.

A staple support and guide bar I5 is arranged within the housing l0 between the lower portions of the side walls thereof and is mounted on said side walls as by means of pins orthe like It. This support bar includes an upper portion I'I formed to be straddled by staples. Over the support bar is a casing or housing I8 formed of a single piece of sheet metal and bent so that it" is substantially U-shaped in transverse section and having its lower portions secured by the pins l6 and in its upper portion provided with'shoulders I9 (see Fig. 5) arranged to overlie staples on the bar to prevent them from moving vertically off the latter.

0n the support bar within the casing I8 is a staple feeding means comprising a sheet metal U-shaped follower 20 straddling the bar and pro- 40 vided with upstanding ears 2| through which extends a follower rod 22 having a coil spring 23 thereon and normally tending to move the follower toward the forward end of the rod. The I rear end of the rod 22 is riveted or otherwise se- 48 cured as at 24 to a cap-like member '25 forming a manipulator and anchor means for the rod. Caplike member 25 is also formed of a single piece of sheet metal being provided with top and side walls 26 and 21 and with a rear wall 28. This 50 member 25 is of a size and shape to" form a continuation of the rear end of-the main'housing Ill.

At its front or open end member 25 is provided with depending portions 29 (Figs. 1 and 10) and a forwardly projecting lug 30. The upper wall 66 I ofthecasing as byarivet or the like 34 andprojects into the recess 82, and has a button or manipulating piece It extending upwardly throughanop'ening llinthetopwall "of the main housing. The rear end of spring extendsbeyond therearendofthe casing i8 andis there bent to provide a hook or latch U, which. when the follower is in place. serves to hold the cap-likememberll with itsforward edgeslsainst the rear edges of the'main housing. so that said member-closes therearendofthemainhousing 1and in effect forms a continuation 'of such hous- When a new strip of staples are to be placed on the support bar II button 8| is depressed, releasing the catch 31 from the rear of'the lug ll, so that by grasping the sides of the member 2' 'it, together with the rod 22 and follower 2', may be removed from the machine. Thereafter, a flew strip of staples having been placed on the support bar, the. follower and rod 22 are re-introduced into the casing II. On pushing the member II forwardly lug II will engage and depress the hook 81, and after the lug passes the hook the latter springs back to normal position in the rear of the lug latching the cap member in place. The side walls of the latter may have their exterior surfaces roughened or corrugated as in Figs. 2 and 10 whereby the same maybe securely ripped for manipulation of rod 22 and follower 2t.

The front wall ll of the 'main housing stops above or short of the forward end of the support bar. A strap-like member 38 of resilient metal has its upper portion clamped against the housing wall l4 as by lugs 39 (Figs. 3 and 12) integral with the side walls of housing II. To prevent vertical movement of the member 38 its upper portion is notched in its opposite sides whereby it includes a relatively narrow portion 4| (Fig. 11), and the lugs it partly enter such notches at the sides of this narrow portion and passing through are folded over on the outer side of the narrow portion 4|. This construction and arrangement is shown in Figs. 3, 11 and 12. The lower portion 4i of member 34 is arranged opposite the front end of the support bar and forms one side of a raceway 42 while the forward end of the support bar forms the opposite side of such raceway. By reference to Fig. 19 it will be noted that the forward ends of the side walls of the support bar casing II project beyond the forward end-of the support bar, as at 43 and 44, and thereby form the edges of the raceway 42 in addition to positively limiting movement of the portion 4i of the strap-like spring member inwardly toward the front end of the support bar, and thus positioning it at the proper distance from the end of the staple support bar. The casing I8 is preferably of steel and the end portions 43 and 44 are hardened. The forward end of the staple support and guide bar I! is also hardened. The spring plate 4i forming the front wall of the staple guide or raceway is quite stiff so as to properly guide the staples but still will yield forwardly (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1) under action of a staple which is thicker than the normal thickness of the raceway as such staple is forced into the raceway by the driver. It therefore will permit staples of different thicknesses of wire to be driven through the raceway and properly driven in the work without clogging the machine.

The plate however isnormaiiy spaced from the front end of the staple guide bar II to provide a raceway of substantially the thickness of the staples for which the machine is designed to be normally used.

Spacers 46 may be arranged at the sides of the lower portions of the support bar to provide the necessary space at the sides of the upper portion thereof to mccommodate'the" staple legs. It will be apparent that the lower portion 4| of the strap-like spring member 38 may yield outwardly with respect to the front end of the support bar. and it will therefore be understood that this arrangement makes it possible to drive through the raceway 42 staples of somewhat larger wire diameters. To assist such staples in entering the raceway the forward upper edge of the support bar may be somewhat bevelled or cut back as at 4'.

Within the forward portion of the housing II is a vertically movable plunger 41 formed from a single piece of sheet metal. In plan or in transverse section this plunger is substantially rectangular and on its upper end is provided with lugs 48 which are carried through openings in a knob 4| and then riveted over or welded to secure the knob to the plunger. The mentioned openings are somewhat tapered or wedge shaped as shown with the wider side at the top, to receive the riveted over portions of the lugs 48. and after the lugs are riveted over the outer surface of the knob is'polished and plated to show a continuous surface.

Before the blank is formed or bent up into the plunger 41 a pair of lugs I are pressed out of the same so as to project from the front wall of the finished plunger. A driver i comprising a flat piece of steel is providedwith openings 52 to receive the lugs BI, and the driver is of such thickness that when it and the plunger are in place it is prevented from moving forwardly of! the lugs by the wall l4 of the main housing. The engagement of the lugs in the recesses 52 is suflicient to cause the driver to move vertically with the plunger 41, and it is noted that the driver extends below the lower end of the plunger and that the upper end of the driver is against the underside of the knob 40 whereby the latter takes the staple driving shocks and effectively prevents the driver moving upwardly on the plunger due to the pressure of driving the staples.

Driver II is located to. move downwardly through the raceway 42 on the plunger being depressed. A coil spring I! is located within the plunger and at one end engages the underside of the knob 43 and at its other end engages the forward portion of the top wall ii of the support bar casing it, an upstanding pin 54 being carried by such casing to locate the lower end of said spring. This spring is to normally keep the plunger and driver in a raised or retracted position and to return them to such position when moved therefrom.

Upward movement of the plunger and driver is limited by a means located within the main housing it. This means comprises a portion of an inner housing 55 (Figs. 1, 4, 8 and 9) also made up of a single piece of sheet metal bent to provide spaced side walls 58 and TI and a short connecting end wall 58 carrying a depending lug It. The inner housing is disposed on the support bar casing i3 and its side walls extend downwardly at the sides of such casing to straddle the upper narrower portion thereof as shown at a Pig. 1, the lower edges of the sides a and Ila resting on top of the shoulders l8 (Figs. 5 and 16 to 18),, while its end wall 58 rests on the top wall of the casing with the lug 59 entering an opening 60 in such wall of the casing. Preferably the upper edges of the side walls 56 and 51 of the inner housing are of the same contour as the top wall of the main housing so as to lie along the same as in Fig. 1. This top wall of the main housing adjacent the plunger opening 6| therein, (see Fig. 13) is provided with a pair of spaced slots 62 into which enter lugs 63 on the upper ends of the side walls of the inner housing. With the construction described it will be apparent that the inner housing is securely held in place, the lugs 63 engaging the inner ends of slots 62 to prevent the inner housing tipping backwardly under lifting action of the plunger against the shoulders 680..

At its rear side the plunger 81 includes extensions 64 providing shoulders 65 on both extensions and shoulders 66 and 61 on one extension. On the upper front edges of its side walls the inner housing 55 has lugs or extensions 68 aligning with the extensions 64 on the plunger and positioned to be engaged by the shoulders 65 on the plunger when the plunger is in its uppermost position whereby movement of the plunger out of the housing under the influence of the spring 53 is prevented. It is noted that the driver 50 is of the width of the raceway 62 so that when such driver is in the raceway a staple may not enter the same from off the support bar. Means are provided whereby if the plunger and thus the driver are given an incomplete staple driving stroke, or that is, is not depressed to its lower position to drive the staple, the plunger and driver are held in depressed position with the driver partly in the raceway and in front of the top wall of the staple support and guide bar l5, so that, there being a staple in the raceway due to the driver having been given an incomplete driving stroke, a second staple may not enter the raceway.

The means for the mentioned purpose comprises a dog 69 pivoted at 690. on the side wall 51 on the inner housing, and having an arm 10 passing through an opening H in such wall, which arm at the inner side of the wall is connected with one end of a coil spring l2, the other end of which is anchored at 73. This coil spring normally holds the dog 69 in the position of Fig. 1. On the plunger being given a partial or only incomplete downward movement the rear edge of its extension 65 with the shoulders or notches 5i and 66 rubs against the forward portion of the dog 69 rocking the latter about its pivot. Where this movement is such as to carry the shoulder 67 below the dog the forward end of the latter will be pointing downwardly and if the plunger is then released as the spring 53 tries to raise the plunger the dog will engage the shoulder 61 and lock the plunger preventing the spring from carrying the plunger to normal position, as the shoulder 61 and its notch is not out back far enough to permit the dog to assume the horizontal position or swing by, the free end of the dog being inclined downwardly.

The plunger being held partly depressed the driver is blocking the raceway at the forward end of the support bar. On the plunger being fully depressed to cause the driving of a staple entirely through the raceway, as the shoulder 66 passes the forward end of the dog 69 the latter is released so as to swing back to normal position (Fig. 1) as the notch for shoulder 66 is cut deeper than the notch for shoulder 61, and is sufflciently deep to permit the dog 69 to swing by or to the horizontal position. Thereafter as the spring imparts return movement to the plunger the shoulder 66 will turn the dog 69 in the opposite direction or to have its forward end pointing upwardly and in this position of the dog the shoulders 66 and 61 may pass it. It is noted that the side wall 51 of the inner housing has an intermediate portion 14 offset inwardly so that the dog 69 lies within the plane of the side wall of the inner housing, permitting the side walls thereof to lie against the inner surfaces of the side walls of the main housing.

The machine includes a base 15 formed of a piece of heavy sheet metal suitably shaped and including a top wall 16 and side walls l1. At its rear end the top wall is cut away at 18 and a mounting means 19 is applied to the base. This mounting means is formed of relatively heavy sheet metal and includes an attaching portion Bil extending under the top wall of the base and secured thereto as by rivet 8|. Also, the mounting means includes a pair of spaced upstanding ears 82 connected with the portion through the cut-out 18 and having portions spaced from the portion 80 at 83 so as to extend over the upper wall of the base. The rear portion of the support bar extendsv between the ears 82 and a mounting pivot pin 84 pivotally mounts the support bar and the housing l0 and all the mechanism therein on the ears 82, whereby the forward portion of the housing is movable toward the base. A spring 85 is secured in place by the rivet BI and has a curved portion 86 bearing against the underside of the rear portion of the support bar so as to normally keep the housing spaced above the base as in Figs. 1 and 2 to permit easy insertion of the articles to be stapled under the forward part of the housing l0 and between this housing and the base.

In its forward portion beneath the raceway 42 the base is provided with an opening 81 accommodating a depressed portion 88 of an anvil member 89 having the anvil slots 90 pressed therein for bending inwardly and clinching the prongs of the staples. and whereby the depressed portion 88 is formed. This anvil member is secured to the top wall of the base by rivets 9| or the like. i

Attention is directed to the fact that all of the parts of the machine with the exception of the support bar l 5 and the follower rod 22 are formed of sheet metal. The main housing iii, the inner housing 55, the cap-like member 25, the plunger ll, the knob 69, the support-bar casing ill, the base 15 and the mounting member 19, are each formed of a single piece of sheet metal. All the operating mechanisms are completely enclosed and concea ed by the main housing and the cap 25 so that the machine is of neat and attractive appearance as shown in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the machine the follower 20 feeds the staples along the support bar and the staples, one at a time, enter the raceway and are driven therefrom by the driver as it is carried downwardly with the plunger on the latter being depressed against the action of spring 53. Spring 85 permits the housing to rock about the pivot 84 so as to dispose the lower end of the raceway 82 against any papers or the like on the anvil member 89. After a stapling stroke, on the knob 49 being released, spring 53 raises the plunger and driver and spring 85 raises the housing. If desired, the plunger above its lower end may have eluding side walls, a support bar in said housing between said side walls, said housing including a front wall stopping short of the upper side of said support bar, a spring plate secured to said front wall and fornfiig a continuation thereof and comprising with the front end'of the sup-\ port bar opposite sides of a raceway, means for feeding staples along said support bar to the raceway, means for driving staples through said raceway, and said spring being free to yield outwardly away from the end of the bar under action of the staples to permit of staples of differentwire thicknesses being driven through the raceway.

2. In a staple driving machine, a housing comprising a single piece of sheet metal bent to provide top and side walls, a staple support bar between and mounted on the lower portions of said side walls and extending beyond the rear ends of the same, a casing about saidsupport bar and serving to prevent vertical movement of staples thereon, a follower on-said support bar, a rodon which said follower isslidable, a springfor moving the follower along said road and support bar, a cap-like member to which said rod is attached and which when in place conceals the rear portion of the support bar and forms a-continuation of and a closure for the rear end of said housing, and latch means on said support bar casing for securing said cap-like member in place.

3. In a staple driving machine, a housing comprising a single piece of sheet metal bent to provide top and side walls, a staple support bar between and mounted on the lower portions of said side walls and extending beyond the rear ends of the same, a casing about said support bar and serving to prevent vertical movement of staples thereon, a follower on said support bar, a rod on which said follower is slidable, a spring for moving the follower along said rod and support bar, a cap-like member to which said rod is attached and which when in place conceals the rear portion of the support bar and forms a continuation of and a closure for the rear end of said housing, latch means on said support bar casing and securing said cap-like member in place, and said latch means including a releasing means exposed through a wall of said housing.

4. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple support bar in said housing, said housing including a front wall stopping short of the upper side of the front end of said bar, a strap-like member of spring metal having its upper portion rigidly secured to said housing and said member forming a continuation of said front wall and with the front end of the support bar forming a raceway, and said strap-like member in its lower portion free to yield outwardly away from the end of the bar under action of the staples to permit of staples of different wire thicknesses being driven through the raceway.

5. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple support bar in said housing, said housing including a front wall stopping short of the upper side of the front end of said bar, a strap-like member of spring metal, lugs on said housing and clamping the upper portion of said member against the front wall of the housing, said member having its lower portion forming a continuation of said front wall and with the front end of the support bar defining opposite sides of a raceway, and said strap-like member in its lower portion adapted to yield outwardly under action of the staples to permit of staples of different wire thicknesses being driven through the raceway.

6. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple support bar in said housing, said housing including a front wall stopping short of the upper side of the front end of said bar, a straplike member of spring metal having its upper portion rigidly secured to said front wall, said member having its lower portion forming a continuation of said front wall and'with the front end of the support bar defining opposite sides of a raceway, a casing on said support bar and serving to prevent vertical movement of staples therealong, said casing having its side walls projecting forwardly of the front end of the support bar and definitely limiting movement of the strap-like member toward the front end of the support bar and forming the edges of said raceway, and said strap-like member in its lower portion being adapted to yield outwardly under action of the staples to permit of staples of different wire thicknesses being driven through the raceway.

7. In a staple driving machine, a main housing having spaced side walls forming an elongated lower portion and upwardly extending forward portion, a staple support bar in the housing between the lower portions of the side walls, an inner housing mounted in the upwardly extending forward portion of the main housing above the support bar and having upright side walls, a plunger mounted to reciprocate in the main housing between its front wall and the front of the inner housing, a spring tending to retract the plunger, said plunger having a rearwardly extending shoulder, and an integral shoulder formed on the forward edge of the side wall of the inner housing to cooperate with the shoulder on the plunger to limit movement of the plunger under action of the spring.

8. In a staple driving machine, a main housing including front, top and side walls, a staple support bar in said housing between the lower portions of the side walls thereof, a casing on said support bar, an inner housing within said main housing and seated on said casing and held thereon by engagement withthe top wall of the main housing, a plunger in the main housing and reciprocable between the front wall thereof and the front of the inner housing, a spring for moving said plunger in one direction, and means on the inner housing limiting movement of the plunger under the influence of said spring.

9. In a staple driving machine, a main housing including front,top and side walls, a staple support bar in said housing between the lower portions of the side walls thereof, a raceway at the forward end of said support bar, a casing on said support bar, an inner housing within said main housing and on said casing and held thereon by engagement with the top wall of the main housing, a plunger in the main housing and reciprocable between the front wall thereof and the front wall of the inner housing, a driver movable by said plunger to drive a staple through said raceway and when in the raceway preventing a staple from entering the same from said support bar, a spring for moving said plunger in one direction, means on the inner housing for limiting movement of the plunger under the influence of said spring, and cooperating means on the plunger and inner housing preventing return movement of the plunger and driver from an incomplete driving stroke so as to maintain the driver in the raceway under such conditions whereby to prevent a second staple entering the raceway until the first to enter it is driven therefrom.

10. In a staple driving machine, a main housing including front, top and side walls, a staple support bar in said housing between the lower portions of the side walls thereof, a casing on said support bar, an inner housing within said main housing and on said casing, a lug on said inner housing and entering an opening in said casing, said main housing having slots in its top wall, lugs on said inner housing and entering said slots whereby the inner housing is held on said casing with its lug in the opening in the casing, a plunger in the main housing and reciprocable between the front wall thereof and the front of the inner housing, a spring for moving said plunger in one direction, and means on the inner housing limiting movement of the plunger under the influence of said spring.

11. In a staple driving machine, a main housing including front, top and side walls, a staple support bar in said housing between the lower portions of the side walls thereof, a raceway at the forward end of said support bar, a casing on said support bar, an inner housing within said main housing on said casing and held thereon by engagement with the top wall of the main housing, a plunger in the main housing and reciprocable therein, a driver movable by said plunger to drive a staple through said raceway and when in the raceway preventing a staple from entering the same from said support bar, a spring for retracting said plunger means on the inner housing limiting movement of the plunger under the influence or said spring, said inner housing comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to include spaced side walls, a spring between said walls, a dog pivoted on the outer side of one of said walls and having an arm extending through an opening therein and connected with said spring, and a shoulder on said plunger to cooperate with said dog and prevent return movement of the plunger and driver from an incomplete driving stroke so as to maintain the driver in the raceway under such conditions whereby to prevent a second staple entering the raceway until the first to enter it is driven therefrom.

12. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple feeding and driving means within said housing, a formed sheet metal base of inverted channel shape, a formed sheet metal mounting member including a pair of spaced ears extending upwardly above the base having slots in one edge to receive the top portion of the channel of the base, said mounting also including a connecting portion extending between the ears and secured to the rear portion of the top or the channel, and means pivoting said housing between said ears for swinging movement relative to the base.

13. In a staple driving machine, a housing, staple feeding and driving means within said housing, a formed sheet metal base of inverted channel shape, a formed sheet metal mounting member including a portion extending under the top of the channel and a pair of spaced ears integral therewith disposed partly over and extending upwardly above the rear portion of the base and having slots in their forward edges to receive the rear end portion of the top of the channel, means securing said portion to the top wall of the channel, and means pivoting the housing to said ears for swinging movement toward and from the base.

FRIDOLIN POLZER. 

